Jobs for middle class are ends, not means

5:28 PM,
Feb. 23, 2013

Jim Thompson

Written by

Jim Thompson

Politicians at the highest levels talk about the middle class as being the backbone, the strength of the country. In one sense they are correct, for a robust middle class has, at least in the past, been a key component of a strong economy.

However, except in a few cases - independent tradespersons, independent small-store operators and so forth - the middle class is the ends, not the means. Anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is either disingenuous or hasn't thought the matter through.

Ends exist only because of means. Traditional middle-class jobs were created in factories by ...